A "fuming" Raheem Sterling apologised to Gareth Southgate after learning of a press release that claimed he would captain England against Netherlands on Thursday.
Purple PR circulated a statement on behalf of Sterling's representative agency Colossal Sports Management which suggested the Manchester City star would wear the armband in the Nations League semi-final clash in Portugal.
Sterling, 24, is set to win his 50th cap and could lead his country if regular captain Harry Kane is rested.
England boss Southgate insists no decision has been made and winger Sterling was left bewildered and upset by the error.